Major Winter Storm Causes Deaths, Power Outages, and Travel Chaos Across the U.S.

A powerful winter storm wreaked havoc today as it swept from the Ohio Valley into the mid-Atlantic, bringing heavy snow, icy conditions, and widespread disruptions. Here’s what you need to know:

Storm Impacts and Casualties

• The storm has caused at least four fatalities across multiple states due to hazardous weather conditions.
• Heavy snow blanketed large swaths of the country, with central Kansas seeing nearly 18 inches, while upstate New York was buried under more than 6 feet of snow.
• Winter weather alerts were issued for 62 million people, stretching from Illinois to southern New Jersey.

Power Outages and Utility Disruptions

• Over 300,000 customers lost power as the storm barreled eastward, with widespread outages reported in Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, and Virginia.
• According to PowerOutage.us, approximately 230,000 utility customers across seven states remained without electricity as of tonight.
• Virginia led in power outages with 57,881 customers in the dark, followed by Kentucky (37,786) and Indiana (37,214).
• The storm is expected to exit the Atlantic coast overnight, with a surge of cold air behind it causing temperatures from the Great Plains to the East Coast to plunge 5 to 20 degrees below average, according to the National Weather Service.

Travel Chaos

• Nearly 2,000 flights were canceled nationwide, and Kansas City International Airport in Missouri was one of the hardest-hit hubs.
• Following a weather-related closure on Saturday, the airport struggled to handle the aftermath, with 60 canceled departures and 53 delayed flights today, according to FlightAware.
• Long security screening lines added to passenger woes, with travelers advised to arrive well in advance to navigate the disruptions.

Looking Ahead

As the storm moves offshore, colder-than-average temperatures are forecast to grip the affected regions. The aftermath of the storm will continue to challenge residents and travelers in the days ahead, with power restoration efforts and delayed travel plans underway.